SPS 303.03(1)(1)Scope. Any person affected by a rule of the department may petition for a variance from the rule. The petition for variance shall establish an equivalency which meets the intent of the rule being petitioned.

SPS 303.03(2)(2)Application for petition for variance. Application for a petition for variance from a rule shall be made on forms furnished by the division. The following shall be submitted when requesting a variance from a rule:

SPS 303.03(2)(a)(a) A completed petition for variance form including a clear and concise written statement of the specific provisions of the rule from which the variance is requested along with a specific statement of the procedures and materials to be used if the variance is granted;

SPS 303.03(2)(c)(c) A completed position statement on the petition for variance from the department of health services, where applicable;

SPS 303.03(2)(d)(d) A completed position statement on the petition for variance from the chief of the fire department having jurisdiction, where applicable; and

SPS 303.03(2)(e)(e) A completed municipal recommendation on the petition for variance from the enforcement official of the municipality exercising jurisdiction, where applicable.

SPS 303.03 NoteNote: The submittal of position statements and municipal recommendations is dependent on the rule being petitioned and is specified in the code under which the variance is requested.

SPS 303.03 NoteNote: The department form required in this section is available from the Division of Industry Services at P.O. Box 7162, Madison, WI 53707-7162; or at telephone 608/266-3151 or 877/617-1565 or 411 (Telecommunications Relay); or at the Division's website at http://dsps.wi.gov/ .

SPS 303.03(3)(a)(a) Upon receipt of the petition for variance form, the applicable fee and the position statement, and any other documents the petitioner may wish to submit, the division shall evaluate the petition for variance and determine if the petition for variance provides for an equivalency which meets the intent of the rule being petitioned.

SPS 303.03(3)(b)(b) Except as provided in sub. (5), requests for petitions for variance shall be evaluated on a first come, first serve basis with respect to the code involved.

SPS 303.03(3)(c)(c) If additional information is needed by the division to review the petition for variance and make a determination, the division shall notify the owner in writing of the specific information required.

SPS 303.03(3)(d)(d) If it is determined that the petition for variance provides an equivalency, the petition for variance shall be approved by the division.

SPS 303.03(3)(e)(e) If it is determined that the petition for variance does not provide an equivalency, the division may:

SPS 303.03(3)(e)1.1. Approve the petition for variance subject to specific conditions determined by the division which shall establish an equivalency which meets the intent of the rule;

SPS 303.03(3)(e)2.2. Grant a temporary variance to delay enforcement of a rule to a specified date, not to exceed one year. In requesting the variance, the petitioner shall demonstrate that all available steps are being taken to safeguard the public and employees against the hazard covered by the rule from which the variance is sought and shall possess and describe a program for coming into compliance with the rule as quickly as possible. A temporary variance may be renewed no more than twice, not to exceed one year each, and only if the petitioner files an application for renewal at least 90 calendar days before expiration of the temporary variance;

SPS 303.03(3)(e)3.3. Grant an experimental variance to allow the petitioner to participate in an experiment approved by the division to demonstrate or validate new or improved techniques to safeguard the health or safety of the public and employees; or

SPS 303.03(4)(4)Notification of petition for variance determination. The division shall notify the petitioner in writing of the petition for variance determination, including any conditions of approval. Any denial shall include the reason for denial, and information on the appeals procedure.

SPS 303.03(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), the division shall review and make a determination on an application for a petition for variance within 30 business days. When an appointment process exists for a specific type of petition, the processing time shall begin on the appointment date. When an appointment process does not exist for a specific type of petition, the processing time shall begin on the day after receipt of the application and all forms, fees and other documents necessary to complete the review.

SPS 303.03(5)(b)(b) Upon request of the petitioner and submittal of the required fee, the division shall facilitate the review of a petition in less than the processing time specified in par. (a). The fee for this type of priority petition review shall be twice the fee required for the processing time specified in par. (a). The division shall review and make a determination on an application for a priority petition for variance within 10 business days.

SPS 303.03(5)(c)(c) Petitions for variance from a rule contained in chs. SPS 320 to 325 shall be processed by the division within 10 business days where a municipality administers and enforces the code, and within 15 business days where the division administers and enforces the code.

SPS 303.03(5)(d)(d) Pursuant to s. 101.121 (3) (b), Stats., petitions for variance from a rule for a historic building shall be processed by the division within 10 business days.

SPS 303.03(5)(e)(e) When additional information is requested by the division to complete the review of the petition, the amount of time from the date of the request to the date of receipt by the division of the information will not be included in the processing times specified in pars. (a) to (d). The full period for review specified in pars. (a) to (d) shall apply from the date of receipt of the additional information.

SPS 303.03(5)(f)1.1. If a petition for variance is submitted with a request for a plan review under s. SPS 382.20, the processing times of this subsection for the petition and the processing times of s. SPS 382.20 (1) for the plan review shall run concurrently.

SPS 303.03(5)(f)2.2. If a petition for variance is submitted with a request for a plan review under either s. SPS 361.31 or 383.22, the processing times of this subsection for the petition and the processing times of ss. SPS 361.31 (3) (a) and 383.22 (3) (a) for the plan review shall run consecutively, with the petition being processed first.

SPS 303.03(6)(a)(a) If a petition for variance is initially denied by the division, the petitioner may, in writing, modify the request for variance by submitting additional or other alternatives in order to provide an equivalency and resubmit the application for the petition for variance.

SPS 303.03(6)(b)(b) The petitioner may, in writing, request that his or her original petition statements or the conditions of approval be modified and resubmit the application for the petition for variance.

SPS 303.03(7)(7)Revocation. The division may revoke any petition for variance where it is determined that the variance was obtained through fraud or deceit or where the petitioner has violated the specific conditions on which the variance was approved.

SPS 303.04(1)(1)Types of variances. Pursuant to s. 101.055 (4), Stats., a public employer may apply to the division for a temporary, experimental or permanent variance on occupational safety and health rules affecting public employees.

SPS 303.04(1)(a)1.1. The division may grant a temporary variance before a rule goes into effect if the public employer complies with subs. (2) and (3) and establishes that it is unable to comply with a rule by the rule's effective date because of unavailability of professional or technical personnel or of necessary materials or equipment or because necessary construction or alteration of facilities cannot be completed by the effective date.

SPS 303.04(1)(a)2.2. The employer shall also show that it is taking all available steps to safeguard employees against the hazard covered by the rule from which the variance is sought and shall possess and describe a program for coming into compliance with the rule as quickly as possible.

SPS 303.04(1)(a)3.3. If a hearing on the application for variance is requested, the division may state in writing that non-compliance with the rule is permitted for 180 calendar days or until a decision is made after the hearing, whichever is earlier.

SPS 303.04(1)(a)4.4. A temporary variance shall be in effect for a period to time needed by the employer to achieve compliance with the rule or for one year, whichever is shorter.

SPS 303.04(1)(a)5.5. A temporary variance may be renewed no more than twice, and only if the public employer files an application for renewal at least 90 calendar days before expiration of the temporary variance.

SPS 303.04(1)(b)(b)Experimental variance. The division may grant an experimental variance if the public employer complies with subs. (2) and (3) and it is determined that the variance is necessary to permit the employer to participate in an experiment approved by the division to demonstrate or validate new or improved techniques to safeguard the health or safety of employees.

SPS 303.04(1)(c)(c)Permanent variance. The division may grant a permanent variance if the public employer complies with subs. (2) and (3) and it is determined that the employer has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the conditions and methods the employer uses or proposes to use provide employment or a place of employment which is as safe and healthful as that provided under the rule from which the employer seeks a permanent variance. A permanent variance may be modified or revoked upon application by the employer, an affected employee, a public employee representative or the department and after opportunity for a hearing on the application, but not sooner than 6 months after issuance of the permanent variance.

SPS 303.04(2)(2)Application for petition for variance. Application for a petition for variance of a rule shall be made on forms furnished by the division. The following shall be submitted when requesting a variance from a rule:

SPS 303.04(2)(a)(a) A completed and notarized petition for variance form including a clear and concise written statement of the specific provisions of the rule from which the variance is requested along with a specific statement of the procedures and materials to be used if the variance is granted; and

SPS 303.04 NoteNote: The Department form required in this section is available from the Division of Industry Services at P.O. Box 7162, Madison, WI 53707-7162; or at telephone 608/266-3151 or 877/617-1565 or 411 (Telecommunications Relay); or at the Division's Web site at http://dsps.wi.gov/programs/industry-services.

SPS 303.04(3)(a)(a) The employer shall provide a copy of the application for petition for variance to the appropriate public employee representatives.

SPS 303.04(3)(b)(b) A copy of the petition for variance shall be posted by the employer at places where notices to employees are normally posted.

SPS 303.04(3)(c)(c) The notice shall summarize the application and inform public employees of the right to request a hearing. Employees shall have 15 business days to request a hearing.

SPS 303.04(3)(d)(d) The public employer shall furnish evidence to the division that conditions specified in par. (c) have been satisfied and that public employees have no interest in requesting a hearing from the division.

SPS 303.04(4)(a)(a) Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing from a public employer, an affected public employee or a public employee representative, the division shall schedule a hearing on the petition and inform the parties in writing about the date, time and place for the hearing. The division shall hold the hearing within 30 business days from receipt of the request, unless the person requesting the hearing asks for an extension.

SPS 303.04(4)(b)(b) Where a hearing is requested, no decision may be made by the division until a hearing has been held.

SPS 303.04(5)(a)(a) Unless a hearing is requested upon receipt of the petition for variance form, the division shall evaluate the petition for variance and determine if the petition for variance provides for an equivalent degree of safety or health. The petition shall prescribe the methods and conditions which the employer must adopt and maintain while the variance is in effect.

SPS 303.04(5)(b)(b) If additional information is needed by the division to review the petition for variance and make a determination, the division shall notify the owner in writing of the specific information requested.

SPS 303.04(5)(c)(c) If it is determined that the petition for variance provides an equivalent degree of safety or health, the petition for variance shall be approved by the division.

SPS 303.04(5)(d)(d) If it is determined that the petition for variance does not provide an equivalent degree of safety or health, the division may:

SPS 303.04(5)(d)1.1. Approve the petition for variance subject to specific conditions determined by the division which will establish an equivalent degree of safety or health as specified in the rule;

SPS 303.04(6)(6)Notification of petition for variance determination. The division shall notify the petitioner and affected parties in writing of the petition for variance determination. Any denial shall include the reason for denial, and information on appeals procedure.

SPS 303.04(8)(8)Revocation. The division may revoke any petition for variance where it is determined that the variance was obtained through fraud or deceit or where the petitioner has violated the specific conditions on which the variance was approved.

SPS 303.05(2)(a)(a) Pursuant to s. 101.598 (2), Stats., an employer may petition the division for an exemption from retaining a data sheet or maintaining an identification list as specified in s. 101.583 (1), Stats., regarding any mixture containing a toxic substance.

SPS 303.05 NoteNote: Petitions for exemption should be sent to the Division of Industry Services, P.O. Box 2658, Madison, WI 53701-2658.

SPS 303.05(2)(c)(c) The petition shall be accompanied by the appropriate information and documentation indicating:

SPS 303.05(2)(c)1.1. That the nature of the toxic substance or the quantity of the toxic substance present in the mixture is such that the mixture is highly unlikely to pose an unreasonable acute or chronic health hazard to an employee who works with or is likely to be exposed to the mixture; and

SPS 303.05(2)(c)2.2. The specific conditions and procedures under which the mixture is to be used if the exemption is granted.